RARE CHANGE / COINS / PLATE 15 · 2/- · 1927 · MELBOURNE
1927 Canberra florin, and what it's worth
The 1927 Australian commemorative florin struck at the Melbourne Mint for the opening of Parliament House in Canberra, showing the building on the reverse, not the ordinary 1927 coat of arms florin.
A genuine one, never used
$140
Middle half of sales $100 to $205. Lowest $60, highest $475.
Hammer prices (before buyer's fees) from 31 single-item sales at Noble Numismatics and Downies, 2017 to 2026. Updated 30 Oct 2026.
Prices by condition
AUDWorn coins sell for less. Find the row that looks most like yours.
Lightly wornVery Fine · 1 sale
Too few sales for a fair price
Barely wornExtremely Fine · 7 sales
$50
Never usedUncirculated · 23 sales
$140
Line: lowest to highest sale. Box: the middle half of sales. Dot: the median, half sold for more and half for less.
Recent sales
HammerHow to check yours
Each letter on the drawing marks where to look. A magnifying glass or your phone's zoom helps.
-
Check A: Does the reverse show Parliament House in an oval frame, rather than the coat of arms?
The whole reverse- YES
- A building front in an oval frame over crossed sceptres, with PARLIAMENT HOUSE AUSTRALIA around the top.
- NO
- A shield between a kangaroo and an emu, with ONE FLORIN - TWO SHILLINGS around the top.
-
Check B: Are the front steps sharply struck, with each step separate?
The steps across the front of Parliament House on the reverse- YES
- Each step shows as a distinct, crisp line.
- NO
- The steps run together or look flat and blurred.
The free photo checker is on its way.
Record
- Face value
- 2/-
- Year
- 1927
- Mint
- Melbourne
- Issued to mark the opening of Parliament House in Canberra on 9 May 1927. [1][2][3]
- It is generally described as Australia's first commemorative coin. [2][3]
- 2,000,000 were struck. [1][4][3]
- Struck in sterling silver at the Melbourne Mint. [2][4]
- George Kruger Gray designed the Parliament House reverse. The George V portrait on the obverse is by Bertram Mackennal. [2][3]
- Ordinary florins with the coat of arms reverse were also struck with the 1927 date. [5][6]
Questions
How much is a 1927 Canberra florin worth?
A genuine 1927 Canberra florin in never used condition (Uncirculated) has typically sold for $140 at Australian auctions, with the middle half of sales between $100 and $205. Better-preserved examples sell for more.
How do I know if my 1927 Canberra florin is genuine?
Work through the checks above. They cover what genuine examples show and what altered or different versions don't. A photo can't prove a coin or note is genuine, so for a valuable find, ask a professional numismatist or a grading service before you sell.
Should I clean it?
No. Cleaning leaves fine scratches that collectors spot at once, and cleaned coins and notes sell for much less. Keep it as it is, in a paper envelope or a coin holder.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from at least two independent sources. Prices come from our own record of auction results.
- Proof Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), Opening of Parliament House, Canberra Florin, Australia, 1927, read 29 Oct 2026
- George V 1927 Canberra Florin Uncirculated, read 29 Oct 2026
- The 1927 Canberra Florin - Australia's First Commemorative Coin, read 29 Oct 2026
- Australia 1927 Florin (Canberra), read 29 Oct 2026
- Australia 1927 Florin, read 29 Oct 2026
- Florin (Australian coin), read 29 Oct 2026